WHAT ARE BLOCKCHAIN, AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

Abstract: In the beginning, Nakamoto created the blockchain. Bitcoin was implemented as the first manifestation of this new paradigm, but since it’s release in 2009, blockchains have birthed a plethora of new applications that have more than just geeks and cypherpunks turning their heads. This high-level overview will provide some background on what blockchains are exactly, how they work, and why people think they’re cool. The understanding acquired will then be extended to cover contemporary concepts such as smart contracts, the latest significant innovation in the blockchain space. There will be plenty of question time at the end.